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Texas Tech baseball: 3 reasons Red Raiders were able to sweep regional

By Matthew Conner

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 05: Cody Masters #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is congratulated by Braxton Fulford #26 after hitting a home run against the Texas State Bobcats at Minute Maid Park on March 05, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 05: Cody Masters #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is congratulated by Braxton Fulford #26 after hitting a home run against the Texas State Bobcats at Minute Maid Park on March 05, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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OMAHA, NEBRASKA – JUNE 13: A general view of bats during the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium on June 13, 2000 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NEBRASKA – JUNE 13: A general view of bats during the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium on June 13, 2000 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

The bottom of the order came up huge

All season, the Texas Tech baseball team has relied on the top of the order (Dru Baker, Braxton Fulford, Jace Jung, and Cal Conley in particular) to provide the lion’s share of the offense.  But in the Lubbock Regional, the bottom of the lineup came through in a huge way to help power the Red Raiders to the sweep.

After picking up one RBI against Army from the No.s 6-9 hitters, Tech saw the bottom of the order pick up the slack on Saturday and Sunday.  And it all centered around Kurt Wilson.

Coming back to play the field for the first time this weekend since breaking his thumb in mid-season, the outfielder was spectacular on Saturday and Sunday.  In those two games, Wilson went 4-7 with five RBI.

Saturday, he homered off of the right-field foul pole to give Tech a much-needed insurance run in what was a 3-2 game when he stepped to the plate.  He would later widen Tech’s lead by two more runs with an RBI single in the 8th inning.

On Sunday, he would drive home Tech’s first run to knot the game with UCLA at 1-1 in the second inning.  Then, in the 5th, he would push another run across the plate to extend the margin to 7-2 Tech.  It was a triumphant return to the plate for a hitter who entered the weekend hitting just .261 but who now sees his average at .283.

Two other end-of-the-order hitters to come up big this weekend were Nate Rombach and Easton Murrell.  That duo combined for five hits and four RBI in the three-game set.  Most notably was Murrell’s 3-3 performance against the Bruins that yielded two RBI and two runs scored.

If Tech is going to make another run deep into the postseason in 2021, the bottom half of the lineup is going to have to continue to be productive.  While the stars at the top of the order will likely carry the day, if the bottom of the order can hit like it did this weekend, this lineup could carry the Red Raiders deep into Omaha.

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